The Dental Consequences of Tooth Grinding

Did you know that 5% of the Australian population are forceful teeth grinders?

While that may not seem like a large number of people, for these people it can be quite detrimental!

Tooth grinding can lead to many dental problems as well as sleep problems and pain in the area.

Keep reading to learn more about the dental consequences of tooth grinding. And if you think you are a tooth grinder, it may be time for you to visit a Bondi dentist.

Cracked or Loosened Teeth

When you grind your teeth, over time the teeth can crack or become loose from your gums.

Not only can you damage your teeth from the cracking and loosening, but you can also do some damage to the joints in your jaw as well.

When teeth suffer from cracks, they can become deep fractures all the way down to the nerve and tooth roots: this can result in severe pain and tooth loss

Experiencing Pain

One of the most common side effects from tooth grinding is experiencing pain in your teeth and jaw.

This is because of the constant stress that you are putting on your teeth and jaw when this happens. The tired muscles may experience stiffness and pain, which can result in your entire face experiencing stiffness and pain. Sometimes, you may even experience earaches and pains from grinding your teeth.

Exhaustion

Grinding your teeth at night also means that you may not be getting the best sleep you could be getting. You are stressing your jaw, face muscles, and your teeth.

Not only are you probably not sleeping great the night you do it, but the pain it causes can also keep you up at night the following night.

Gum Recession

Tooth grinding doesn’t just affect your teeth and jaws, but it can also affect your gums. Bruxism is a reason for receding gums, which can happen with excessive teeth grinding. While it may not happen right away, it can happen over time.

With excessive teeth grinding, your teeth will shift and eventually loosen, which can create pockets for bacteria to enter.

Eventually, this bacteria causes the gums to pull away from the area, leading to receding gums.

Frequent Headaches

If you notice that you suddenly have frequent headaches throughout the day or right after you wake up, this may be due to teeth grinding. The pressure that you put on your jaw can affect your head and cause pain in the joints and muscles.

See a Dentist for Tooth Grinding

If you realise you are prone to tooth grinding, you don’t want to just sit around and let it happen. This can cause more damage than good.

You may experience headaches daily, your gums may start to recede, and you could even crack your tooth and need to replace it. People who suffer from teeth grinding and clenching need to wear a night time mouthguard called an occlusal splint to protect their teeth from the destructive effects of bruxism.

Before any of that happens, it is best to see a Bondi dentist. The Bondi dentists have helped many people with their cosmetic dentistry needs, restorative dentistry, and simple preventative dentistry. If you are looking for an appointment, call today!